Why do children get MORE expensive as they get older?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old" My foot! I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.

Just because you can't imagine it, doesn't mean it isn't true. I'm sure you thought people were exaggerating about how hard it was to have kids, now you have one. Guess what, it's true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the people who say that didn't have kids in daycare? My kids weren't ever in daycare (I was a SAHM during their younger years) so I'd say that statement is true for us.

++1

[Anonymous]

The difference is big kid costs are optional, for the most part. No kids needs travel soccer--rec is fine. Music lessons can be done at school, scouts is cheaper than musical theater lessons, etc.

There is no way to remove daycare costs.

Our bills shrunk drastically as DS got older (granted, as a teacher I don't need summer care, but even still--his activities are nowhere near the $300/week we paid for daycare)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel sport $100/month
Piano - $100/month
Aftercare -$400/month
Tutoring -$100/month
Swim lessons $100/month

Summer camps can be $500/week for a good quality camp (not just babysitting) -- average over year that's $400/month, but you don't pay aftercare those months.

The things like travel needing two hotel rooms, bigger cars, etc.

Again, there's no requirement to put your kid in 4 after-school activities!! Geez.

This list is really reasonable and way less than most kids we know. Swimming lessons are technically optional but a life skill. I guess your kids will be cheaper if they do nothing. Good luck with that.
Elementary may get a little cheaper. Middle school expenses pick up again. Mine are definitely more expensive in middle/high than as babies! By far.

[Anonymous]

Its not just about daycare vs no daycare. A child needs a new bedroom, if you have more than one kid you may need a bigger home, a bigger car, those are all expenses that one baby didn't affect, unless you only drove a motorcycle or something before kids. Food costs, heating costs, fuel costs, all higher as kids age. Hell, the transition to three kids eating adult meals was painful ~ I fear the day they can drink wine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see this all the time too. I get it - they eat more, clothing is more expensive, and activities plus before care/aftercare - however, I still have a hard time believing I'll be paying as much as daycare.

That's because you haven'the experienced it yet.

If people actually living it don't convince you, you'Lloyd have to wait and see.

We didn't save money the expenses just moved around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old" My foot! I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.

Just because you can't imagine it, doesn't mean it isn't true. I'm sure you thought people were exaggerating about how hard it was to have kids, now you have one. Guess what, it's true.

Again, please, break down your budget showing that the inelastic costs of infant/toddler years are less than the inelastic costs of an older child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old" My foot! I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.

Just because you can't imagine it, doesn't mean it isn't true. I'm sure you thought people were exaggerating about how hard it was to have kids, now you have one. Guess what, it's true.

Again, please, break down your budget showing that the inelastic costs of infant/toddler years are less than the inelastic costs of an older child.

Again, please know that I breastfed and spent NOTHING on supplies (okay, I got a $100 pump at my shower and had to buy milk storage bags sometimes. The idea that medical costs for a baby are so high, or that Hypoallergenic formula PLUS breastfeeding supplies PLUE nanny and emergency nannies is the norm is ridiculous. Hell, I cloth diapered three kids for less than $1000.

So $2000/month for childcare while you are earning a salary. Do we spend 75K on our three kids in a year, factoring in size of home, groceries for 5, their clothing, sports, vacations, hobbies, sports, schooling etc? Absolutely. We blow that number away. However, of course many of the things that we choose to do (like ski) are not "necessary". I'm in no way saying it is. So just like I find the previous post absolutely ridiculous (I mean, really, for a person of normal intelligence, how much can you really spend on BREASTFEEDING SUPPLIES in addition to fancy formula?) many people may find our costs ridiculous. Isn't it possible that for some of us babyhood is cheaper and for others, who have active kids and hobbies of their own, the older years are more expensive?

[Anonymous]

I still have a preschooler and baby, but my siblings with older kids have the said the same thing. Aftercare/camps/extracurriculars can be very expensive. Clothes and food only get MORE expensive the older your kids get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the people who say that didn't have kids in daycare? My kids weren't ever in daycare (I was a SAHM during their younger years) so I'd say that statement is true for us.

++1

And again SAH is by far the bigger expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see this all the time too. I get it - they eat more, clothing is more expensive, and activities plus before care/aftercare - however, I still have a hard time believing I'll be paying as much as daycare.

That's because you haven'the experienced it yet.

If people actually living it don't convince you, you'Lloyd have to wait and see.

We didn't save money the expenses just moved around.

Let's see the numbers. Here are mine.

First year of life:

Maternity leave - $10k
Nanny share - $2200/month (this includes payroll, workers comp, bonuses, etc)
Formula in the first year - $1000
Breastfeeding supplies and lactation consultant in first year: $1000
Baby stuff - $1000/year
Backup childcare - $100/month (average)

total = $34,600

Kindergarten:
Aftercare and camp: $500/mo
Food: $150/mo (likely overestimate, includes school lunch)
Decorating and furnishing "big boy" room: $1000
Class (we do 1 at a time): $100/mo (est)
Amazon videos and toys: $50/month
Clothes: $50/month (est - we get used school uniforms)
One plane ticket and train ticket/year for vacations: $600

Total = $11800

Some of the savings will go into college savings, but that's elastic (we can scale back if need be.)

[Anonymous]

I'd say they average 10k per year after taxes until 23

[Anonymous]

Who are these morons spending $2000/year to formula feed?

[Anonymous]

We still have to pay an after care nanny (3 kids including one or two who would do poorly in a large aftercare) and the hourly rates are much higher for part time care. Combined with the increased grocery bill, orthodontist, other non-reimbursed medical costs, costs for sports (regular rec league), scouts, I'm not sure we're seeing much saving. Everyone circumstabces are different and it's just hard to anticipate whar your kids are going to need as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it's one of those things people exaggerate -- the same way they'll claim "the newborn phase is SO MUCH easier than having a 5 year old" My foot! I can't imagine a more expensive phase of life than when I had a baby and I was paying $2200 for nanny share, medical costs, baby stuff, diapers, hypoallergenic formula PLUS tons of money on breastfeeding/pumping supplies, White House Nannies to cover sick days when I just couldn't take off work, etc etc.

Now that we are just about to shake off daycare costs as we enter into kindergarten, we are planning to put a big chunk of that savings into the 529 for college. So our budget won't necessarily change all that much, but it's much different to be voluntarily saving than having those incredible expenses of the first year or two.

Just because you can't imagine it, doesn't mean it isn't true. I'm sure you thought people were exaggerating about how hard it was to have kids, now you have one. Guess what, it's true.

Again, please, break down your budget showing that the inelastic costs of infant/toddler years are less than the inelastic costs of an older child.

Again, please know that I breastfed and spent NOTHING on supplies (okay, I got a $100 pump at my shower and had to buy milk storage bags sometimes. The idea that medical costs for a baby are so high, or that Hypoallergenic formula PLUS breastfeeding supplies PLUE nanny and emergency nannies is the norm is ridiculous. Hell, I cloth diapered three kids for less than $1000.

So $2000/month for childcare while you are earning a salary. Do we spend 75K on our three kids in a year, factoring in size of home, groceries for 5, their clothing, sports, vacations, hobbies, sports, schooling etc? Absolutely. We blow that number away. However, of course many of the things that we choose to do (like ski) are not "necessary". I'm in no way saying it is. So just like I find the previous post absolutely ridiculous (I mean, really, for a person of normal intelligence, how much can you really spend on BREASTFEEDING SUPPLIES in addition to fancy formula?) many people may find our costs ridiculous. Isn't it possible that for some of us babyhood is cheaper and for others, who have active kids and hobbies of their own, the older years are more expensive?

Are you the SAHM? Here's what I spend on breastfeeding supplies.

Private lactation consultants: $400
Hospital grade pump rental for work (pre-ACA): $200 for one year
Second pump for home: $150
Bags, bottles, flanges, pumping bras etc: at least $300 (probably underestimate)
Mini fridge to store milk at work (admittedly this was an extra but made things much easier): $100

so yea, that gets you up to a $1000

PLUS! my baby had to be supplemented about 8 -12 oz/day from 4 months on. That was very expensive since we had to use hypoallergenic formula, but probably would have been at least $300-$400 even for normal formula.